Cycling
Cyclists to don black armbands
2010-03-10 07:40
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Cape Town - Thousands of the 35 000 entrants of Sundays Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour will wear black armbands to show a collective sorrow at the death of three cyclists hit by a motorist outside Oudtshoorn on Monday morning.
Frank Nel (60), Jan Elloff (73) and Magda van Lill (50) died instantly when the bunch they were riding in was hit by a bakkie overtaking a truck on the R62, nine kilometres outside Oudtshoorn.
"This is yet another tragic incident which could have been avoided," said Hendrik Lemmer, director of Cycling South Africa's Road Cycling Commission.
"On behalf of Cycling South Africa, I'd like to extend condolences to the families of those cyclists who died. I also want them to know that our appeal to cyclists to wear black armbands in the Cycle Tour on Sunday is more than a sign of our collective sorrow, it's a commitment to do something about the lack of general awareness of cyclists on our roads."
Lemmer says Cycling South Africa is committed to working with the authorities to make the roads safer for cyclists.
"It's not something that can be done overnight, because it's a matter of raising awareness and changing attitudes," explained Lemmer.
"But were determined to succeed. We have the most active recreational cycling culture in the world and it's growing daily as more and more people discover the health and fitness benefits of the sport.
"On behalf of all cyclists in this country, I appeal to motorists to please be more aware."
On Tuesday, it was announced that one of South Africa's top professional cyclists, Daryl Impey, had become a patron of Sign-Up, a national campaign aimed at raising funds to erect more government-approved "beware cyclist" signs along popular cycling routes throughout the country.
"I think cyclists and motorists need to begin by obeying the laws of the road," said Impey.
"Cyclists need to realise we are not owners of the roads and vice versa. I believe we (the cyclists) should set an example for others to follow. It takes one second to slow down but also one second to kill someone, mutual respect is what we need."
Impey races on Lance Armstrong's Radioshack team and is a rising star on the international cycling stage. He is currently in the country accompanying Armstrong during his visit this week to Cape Town in conjunction with the JAG Foundation.
Both will compete in Sunday's Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, which, in terms of numbers, is the world's largest cycle race.
"It is great to have Daryl as an ambassador and patron of Sign-Up and it will hopefully bring us much deserved exposure," said Shaun Hannie, founder and chairman of Sign-Up.
"At this time, this is the only national cyclist awareness campaign in South Africa and it's completely reliant on sponsorship and donations.
"Frustratingly, we can't brand national road signs with corporate logos, but we appeal to companies that support cycling to support Sign-Up. One extra sign could safe one cyclists life."